Citizens interested in undertaking an upland game bird habitat enhancement project in central Washington can apply for funding through February 28 from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The funds are from the Dave Wallace Account for Upland Game Bird Habitat Enhancement. This account, in memory of a long-time upland game bird hunter and advocate from Ephrata, provides annual funding from interest on an invested annuity. The money is for upland game bird habitat projects on public and private property in Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Grant or Adams counties.

Only projects that provide habitat benefits for upland game birds (chukar and Hungarian partridge, pheasant, and quail) will be considered. Project requests should not exceed $1,000 and should be aimed at habitat development and enhancement. Requests for winter bird feed or to raise game birds for release do not qualify for funding.

Some of the projects funded in the past include spring developments, fencing of important habitat areas to protect them from livestock, plantings of trees, shrubs and herbaceous cover, and construction of upland game bird feeders.